Jindal Films, Totalenergies and Partners Displaying PP Mono-Material Recyling of Flexibles to Rigid at Interpack 2023

Jindal Films, Totalenergies and Partners Displaying PP Mono-Material Recyling of Flexibles to Rigid at Interpack 2023

Jindal Films (Hall 9 Stand F26), a global leader in the development and manufacture of specialty films for the flexible packaging and labeling markets, will showcase during Interpack 2023 various print, barrier and sealing OPP technologies designed to facilitate the switch from non-recyclable laminates (i.e. containing PET, Alu-foil, Paper …) towards mono-material mechanically recyclable PP based laminates for flexible packaging markets.

DEMONSTRATING RECYCLABILITY OF PP FLEXIBLES TO RIGID

Jindal Films (H9 F26) will be showcasing samples to demonstrate the ease of recycling polypropylene (PP) based flexible packaging into rigid injection molding applications. Jindal Films partnered with TotalEnergies to conduct an industrial scale demonstration by recycling 3-ply high barrier PP laminates – produced by Emsur using BOPP films from Jindal Films and a cast PP film from Profol GmbH – into injection molded parts such as for caps & closures market segments for non-food contact applications.

The polypropylene films were printed in flexography with 3 colors and solvent free adhesive laminated together at Emsur SPO (FR) using conventional industrial materials and processes. The various PP based laminates were composed of 7 to 8% non-PP elements – essentially PU based inks and adhesives – and all met the requirements set by CEFLEX guidelines for a circular economy (>90% PP). These laminates represent commercial PP film applications now commonly found in EU markets as replacement for non-mechanically recyclable structure (e.g. PET/ALU/PE, PET/Met-PET/PE, PET/PET-AlOx/PE…) in high barrier markets segments, such as for sensitive dry foods and beverages that require a long shelf life.

The PP laminates were subsequently shredded, densified and re-pelletized to form recyclate resins (r-PP) and used for injection molding of hinged caps & closures. The comparison of a benchmark with two different barrier OPP technologies showed little difference in mechanical properties and caps with good properties and visual aspects were manufactured with 100% r-PP.

“This new project is yet another demonstration of a successful value chain collaboration to recycle packaging materials into high-quality applications. Replacing hard to recycle multi-material items with mono-materials that can enter available recycling streams, is key to ensuring the circularity of plastic packaging. This fully supports our ambition of producing 30% circular polymers by 2030” said Olivier Greiner, Vice President, Polymers Europe & Orient at TotalEnergies.

“Mechanically recycling PP flexibles to rigid injection molded applications for non-food contact end-uses is the quickest path forward to broadly implement at a large scale PP-recycling streams across Europe” says Mirek Tokaj, Jindal Films Director of Marketing. “We have demonstrated that even ultra-high barrier PP laminates can meet CEFLEX guidelines for circular economy and be effectively recycled. We are very proud of this collaboration with key industrial partners that share a vision for maximizing recycling PP via existing mechanical recycling processes.”

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